Animals, particularly equines, are my greatest passion. I have nearly a decade of experience working with horses, including caring for them, in addition to that, my biggest goal in life is to start my own business working with horses. Currently, I am a member of 4-H, the Youth Equestrian Development Association, and the American Quarter Horse Youth Association. I have been working with horses since I was eight, and I am currently sixteen, a junior in high school. With my YEDA team, I compete in horsemanship, both on the rail and in the pattern. Outside of YEDA, I compete in western pleasure and ranch riding at AQHA and open shows. I've known since I first sat on a horse that I would surround my life with them, a life owning a ranch with cattle, a training facility, or a stud farm -- if it has horses, I will make it happen someday. Competing at the county fair is always a dream come true whenever it comes around. Someday in the near future, I'd like to compete at the Ohio State Fair in the ranch classes. Every day my biggest motivation to get out of bed is to see my ranch riding horse, Teddy, and to spend quality time with him by taking care of him, be that hand grazing, grooming, or even making hay nets for him. I have dedicated my life to caring for these complex and understanding animals because they are so therapeutic to me. When I am around horses, I am calm and my mind is finally clear after the rush of the school and work day. As I've gotten older, I've realized that I'd like to start by creating a training program for horses after I graduate college because I enjoy every second spent working with animals. My goal is to wake up every day filling water buckets and dropping hay in my very own barn, with the animals I've taken under my wing to care for them and to teach them. I spend my days after school learning more and more about agriculture through my 4-H club, and by picking the brains of people who have worked in the industry their whole lives, asking question after question. I love seeing a horse's eyes light up when I'm around because it makes it feel like all the effort and work I've put into them was worthwhile. I will continue in my efforts to care for animals and participate in agriculture for my whole life.